Laila Majnu
Encyclopedia
Laila Majnu is a 1976 Hindi movie
based on the legendary story of Layla and Majnun
. This film version is directed by Harnam Singh Rawail ( H.S. Rawail) and stars Rishi Kapoor
, Ranjeeta, Danny Denzongpa
, Aruna Irani
, Asrani
, Iftekhar
, Tom Alter
and Ranjeet
. The film's music is by Madan Mohan
and Jaidev
.
Layla and Majnun, also known as The Madman and Layla - in Arabic مجنون و ليلى (Majnun and Layla) or قيس وليلى (Qays and Layla), in Persian
: لیلی و مجنون (Leyli and Madjnun), (Leyli və Məcnun) in Azeri - is a classical Arabic story of star-crossed lovers. It is based on the real story of a young man called Qays ibn al-Mulawwah (Arabic: قيس بن الملوح) from the northern Arabian Peninsula
. In one version, he spent his youth together with Layla, tending their flocks. In the other version, upon seeing Layla he fell passionately in love with her. In both versions, however, he went mad when her father prevented him from marrying her; for that reason he came to be called Majnun Layla, which means "Layla's Lunatic."
To recount the story, Laila and her lover Majnu, better known as Qais, were born to rival clans, the Amaris and the Sharwaris. The two loved each other as children. Their love was such that if one was hurt, the other started bleeding. The film recounts, how as kids at the madarsa, the maulvi asks them to write the name of Allah on their slates. Qais, who is lost in thoughts of Laila, inscribes her name instead. In return, an incensed maulvi canes him on the hand. But it is Laila's hand which starts bleeding. Incidents such as this, spread like wild fire and Laila's father, scared for his daughter's reputation, decides to stop her from going to school. The two clan heads decide to separate their children as it is impossible for them to conceive of the Sharwaris and the Amaris ever being joined by love instead of blood. Lalila and her Majnu grow up in different places.
Many years later, Qais and his friends visit Laila's town to buy camels and the stage is set for the two lovers to meet again. One day at the marketplace, they encounter each other and it is love at first sight for both of them. They start meeting each other secretly, all over again. But the villain makes his entry in the form of Laila's hot-tempered brother Tabrez (Ranjeet). He has already had a spat with Qais, with neither knowing the other's true identity. In the turn of events that follow, Qais's father dies at the hands of Tabrez. Qais in turn, avenges his father's murder by killing Tabrez. He is exiled from the town and wanders about in the dunes, like a madman, thirsting for just a look of his beloved. Meanwhile, Laila is married off to a prince, Bakhsh (Danny). Learning of her love for Qais, he promises to keep his distance till such time that he is not able to replace Majnu in Laila's heart. Like all others before him, he is unable to understand the almost divinely ordained love of Laila and Majnu. When he does, it is too late.
The lovers die but the legend lives on. Laila and Majnu's story, as recreated by Rawail, is powerful enough to stir and sweep you along with the cascading emotions of the two lovers and their ill-fated love story. Actor Rishi Kapoor who made the lover image his own in the Seventies, is perhaps the best choice that one can think of, for the role of Majnu. He breathes life into the character of Majnu and manages to make his agony so much more palpable and real. Debutant Ranjeeta, gets a dream role as Qais's Laila. She has never looked better on screen and is apt in the role of Laila. She manages to capture the innocence and purity of the legendary character. The other members of the cast like Danny, Iftekar, Ranjeet, Raza Murad, Achla Sachdev and Aruna Irani, all put in very competent performances and provide good support to the lead pair. It is no easy task to portray a love like Laila Majnu's and make it plausible in today's fast-track life. Rawail's Laila Majnu works because it manages to touch that chord in every human heart, which surely longs to love and be loved like Laila and Majnu. The film has been written beautifully by Abrar Alvi, a long time associate of the late Guru Dutt. The language is simple and yet poetic, a just vehicle for such a love story.
Music has been synonymous with love. And the late Madan Mohan and Jaidev recreate the romance in the songs of the film, all of which have been sung with so much passion and pathos by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi. Numbers like 'Husn Hazir Hai, Mohabbat Ki Sazaa Paane Ko', Barbad-e-Mohabbat Ki Dua Saath Liye Ja', or the more joyous and happier, 'Is Reshmi Pajeb Ki Jhankar Ke Sadke'; the defiant 'Ab Agar Humse Khuda Bhi Khafa Ho Jaaye' and 'Tere Dar Par Aaaya Hoon'. Each of the numbers has been created with so much love that it make true the adage, that 'music is the food of love,' and one wants to say, 'play on.' It is a masterly effort by these two giants of Hindi film music which really lifts this love story and puts it in its right context.
Rawail's Laila Majnu is truly a masterpiece, a paean to love. And in this month of romance, one would like to remember these eternal lovers, who re-wrote the definition of love and gave it an altogether different meaning.
and Jaidev
with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi
.
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
based on the legendary story of Layla and Majnun
Layla and Majnun
Layla and Majnun, also known as The Madman and Layla – in Arabic مجنون ليلى or قيس وليلى , in , Leyli və Məcnun in Azeri, Leyla ile Mecnun in Turkish, in Urdu and Hindi – is a classical Arab story, popularized by Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi's...
. This film version is directed by Harnam Singh Rawail ( H.S. Rawail) and stars Rishi Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor is an Indian Bollywood actor, film producer and director.-Early life:Born in Chembur Mumbai, Kapoor is the second son of film director and star Raj Kapoor. He did his schooling with his brothers at Campion School,Mumbai. His brothers are well-known actors: Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv...
, Ranjeeta, Danny Denzongpa
Danny Denzongpa
Tshering Phintso Denzongpa , widely known by his acting name "Danny" Denzongpa, is an Indian actor of Sikkimese ancestry working in Bollywood films....
, Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani is an Indian actress. An accomplished actress and dancer of her time, Aruna Irani has acted in about 300 movies, with many memorable acting performances to her credit...
, Asrani
Asrani
Govardhan Asrani , popularly known simply as Asrani, is an actor in Indian films whose Bollywood career has spanned over 35 years. His wife Manju Bansal is an actress.-Early life:...
, Iftekhar
Iftekhar
Iftekhar was a character actor in Bollywood films, especially known for his roles as police officers in several films.-Career:...
, Tom Alter
Tom Alter
Tom Alter is an Indian actor of American origin. As a thespian and television actor, he is best known for his work in Bollywood, but has also worked in the theatre...
and Ranjeet
Ranjeet
Gopal Bedi is an actor in Indian films and television, born in Jandiala Guru near Amritsar . He has played mostly character roles, with roles as the villain dominating his over 200 Hindi films...
. The film's music is by Madan Mohan
Madan Mohan
Madan Mohan Kohli , better known as Madan Mohan, was a famed Bollywood film music director of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s...
and Jaidev
Jaidev
Jaidev Hindi:जयदेव वर्मा , was a music composer in Bollywood films, most known for his work in films: Hum Dono , Reshma Aur Shera , Prem Parbat and Gharonda ....
.
Layla and Majnun, also known as The Madman and Layla - in Arabic مجنون و ليلى (Majnun and Layla) or قيس وليلى (Qays and Layla), in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
: لیلی و مجنون (Leyli and Madjnun), (Leyli və Məcnun) in Azeri - is a classical Arabic story of star-crossed lovers. It is based on the real story of a young man called Qays ibn al-Mulawwah (Arabic: قيس بن الملوح) from the northern Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. In one version, he spent his youth together with Layla, tending their flocks. In the other version, upon seeing Layla he fell passionately in love with her. In both versions, however, he went mad when her father prevented him from marrying her; for that reason he came to be called Majnun Layla, which means "Layla's Lunatic."
Plot
HS Rawail's cinematic version of this moving tale of the original star-crossed lovers, Laila Majnu, starring Rishi Kapoor and Ranjeeta, does full justice to this enduring tale. It has the intense pangs of love, the painful obstacles that lie in its path and a soul-stirring performance by its lead actors as they bring Laila and Majnu alive. The icing on the cake, literally, is the amazing musical score which was composed by the late maestro Madan Mohan, who is believed to have died before completing the film, and hence the baton was carried forward by Jaidev, seamlessly.To recount the story, Laila and her lover Majnu, better known as Qais, were born to rival clans, the Amaris and the Sharwaris. The two loved each other as children. Their love was such that if one was hurt, the other started bleeding. The film recounts, how as kids at the madarsa, the maulvi asks them to write the name of Allah on their slates. Qais, who is lost in thoughts of Laila, inscribes her name instead. In return, an incensed maulvi canes him on the hand. But it is Laila's hand which starts bleeding. Incidents such as this, spread like wild fire and Laila's father, scared for his daughter's reputation, decides to stop her from going to school. The two clan heads decide to separate their children as it is impossible for them to conceive of the Sharwaris and the Amaris ever being joined by love instead of blood. Lalila and her Majnu grow up in different places.
Many years later, Qais and his friends visit Laila's town to buy camels and the stage is set for the two lovers to meet again. One day at the marketplace, they encounter each other and it is love at first sight for both of them. They start meeting each other secretly, all over again. But the villain makes his entry in the form of Laila's hot-tempered brother Tabrez (Ranjeet). He has already had a spat with Qais, with neither knowing the other's true identity. In the turn of events that follow, Qais's father dies at the hands of Tabrez. Qais in turn, avenges his father's murder by killing Tabrez. He is exiled from the town and wanders about in the dunes, like a madman, thirsting for just a look of his beloved. Meanwhile, Laila is married off to a prince, Bakhsh (Danny). Learning of her love for Qais, he promises to keep his distance till such time that he is not able to replace Majnu in Laila's heart. Like all others before him, he is unable to understand the almost divinely ordained love of Laila and Majnu. When he does, it is too late.
The lovers die but the legend lives on. Laila and Majnu's story, as recreated by Rawail, is powerful enough to stir and sweep you along with the cascading emotions of the two lovers and their ill-fated love story. Actor Rishi Kapoor who made the lover image his own in the Seventies, is perhaps the best choice that one can think of, for the role of Majnu. He breathes life into the character of Majnu and manages to make his agony so much more palpable and real. Debutant Ranjeeta, gets a dream role as Qais's Laila. She has never looked better on screen and is apt in the role of Laila. She manages to capture the innocence and purity of the legendary character. The other members of the cast like Danny, Iftekar, Ranjeet, Raza Murad, Achla Sachdev and Aruna Irani, all put in very competent performances and provide good support to the lead pair. It is no easy task to portray a love like Laila Majnu's and make it plausible in today's fast-track life. Rawail's Laila Majnu works because it manages to touch that chord in every human heart, which surely longs to love and be loved like Laila and Majnu. The film has been written beautifully by Abrar Alvi, a long time associate of the late Guru Dutt. The language is simple and yet poetic, a just vehicle for such a love story.
Music has been synonymous with love. And the late Madan Mohan and Jaidev recreate the romance in the songs of the film, all of which have been sung with so much passion and pathos by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi. Numbers like 'Husn Hazir Hai, Mohabbat Ki Sazaa Paane Ko', Barbad-e-Mohabbat Ki Dua Saath Liye Ja', or the more joyous and happier, 'Is Reshmi Pajeb Ki Jhankar Ke Sadke'; the defiant 'Ab Agar Humse Khuda Bhi Khafa Ho Jaaye' and 'Tere Dar Par Aaaya Hoon'. Each of the numbers has been created with so much love that it make true the adage, that 'music is the food of love,' and one wants to say, 'play on.' It is a masterly effort by these two giants of Hindi film music which really lifts this love story and puts it in its right context.
Rawail's Laila Majnu is truly a masterpiece, a paean to love. And in this month of romance, one would like to remember these eternal lovers, who re-wrote the definition of love and gave it an altogether different meaning.
Music
Film's music is by Madan MohanMadan Mohan
Madan Mohan Kohli , better known as Madan Mohan, was a famed Bollywood film music director of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s...
and Jaidev
Jaidev
Jaidev Hindi:जयदेव वर्मा , was a music composer in Bollywood films, most known for his work in films: Hum Dono , Reshma Aur Shera , Prem Parbat and Gharonda ....
with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi
Sahir Ludhianvi
Sahir Ludhianvi was a popular Urdu poet and Hindi lyricist and songwriter. Sahir Ludhianvi is his pseudonym...
.
- "Husn Hazir Hai" by Lata Mangeshkar
- "Tere Dar Pa Aaya Hoon" by Mohammad Rafi
- "Hoke Mayoos Tere Dar Se" by Mohammad Rafi, Aziz Nazan, Shankar Shambbhu, Ambar Kumar and Chorus
- "Is Reshmi Paazzeb Ki Jhankar" by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
- "Barbad-E-Mohabbat ki Dua" by Mohammad Rafi
- "Ab Agar Hum Se Khudai Bhi" by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
- "Likhkar Tera Naam Zamin Par" by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar